Syringe assembling method and machine

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for automatically assembling the various components of a syringe having a barrel, a stopper and a hub. Automatic means are provided at various points along the assembly line of the apparatus to effect the assembly of each syringe in a series of steps. The syringe is filled with a liquid during the assembly operation.

United States Patent 1 1 'Klet'tke 1 51 *Jan.; 9, 1973' 1541 YLRI NGE ASSEMBLING METHOD AND [56] References cm MACHINE UNITED STATES PATENTS v a 3,245194 4/1966 Cars'ki.....1.. [.75] .lnventor: Walter G. Klettke, Kalamazoo, 0/1956 Brown H 3,503,113 3/1970 l agsdin "291208 B 73' A ssigh'ee I The Upjohn cmah ,'x515mzoo, Primary EmminerRoberfL- Spruill 1 v Mich. Atiomej1-Woodhams, Blanchard and Flynn, John Kekich and Ward F. Nixon Y 1 Notice: The portion 7 of the term of this patent subsequent to Feb. .23, I988, 7 ABSTRACT has been dlsclalmed- A method and apparatus for automatically assembling [22 Fil d; km 1971 the various components of a syringe havi'ng'a barrel, .a 3 stopper and a hub. Automatic means are provided at N 0 3 7 various points along the assembly line of-the apparatus I to effect the assembly of each syringe in 'aseries of [52] US. Cl. ..53/22 R, 29/208 B, 53/282 steps, The syringe is filled with a liquid during the [51] ope atior I v [58] Field of Search ..29/208 B; 53/22, 37, 43 67, v

53/112, 264, 281, 282, 319, 320, 328 8 Claims, 60 Drawing Figures F 'iv l /54 Q g i /27 /2a /a2 05 T I Y's-5 i 2 f 8! 09 5/4 5 1, ,1 1 I g E 2 575 ,23 4.4 .l v I I l H 42 51; 3/ 5w l I, 2 H F 34g .579 2/ i /6/ M /9, aa C '1 L 1' 3 43,? I I /Z z Ag 7 U BATENTEDJAM 9 ma SHEET 030F 26 INVENTOR. W/(A MP 6 M [ff/(Z PATENIEDJMI 9:915 3.708.945

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1. In a method for automatically assembling and filling a plurality of syringes having tubular barrels open at both ends, the steps comprising: sequentially advancing a plurality of upright barrels in spaced relationship intermittently along a substantially horizontal assembly line through a plurality of stations; mounting a tubular hub on the lower end of each barrel and covering said lower end of said barrel with a liquid-tight sealing member capable of penetration by a cannula; discharging a quantity of liquid into the upper end of each barrel; then inserting a piston into the upper end of each barrel without materially increasing the pressure on the liquid in the barrel; mounting a cannula and casing therefor on the lower end of the hub, the mounted cannula having a sharpened upper end adjacent to but spaced from the sealing member; and discharging the assembled syringes with liquid therein one at a time from said assembly line.
 2. In a machine for automatically assembling and filling a syringe having a cylindrical barrel open at both ends, a sealing member closing one end of said barrel, a cylindrical hub affixed to said one end of said barrel, a piston within said barrel, the combination comprising: frame means; barrel advancing means including elongated means movably supported on said frame means for engaging simultaneously a plurality of spaced barrels disposed in upright positions along an assembly line and for simultaneously and intermittently advancing said plurality of barrels through a plurality of spaced stations arranged along said assembly line; a hub attaching mechanism mounted on frame means for applying a sealing member and a hub to the lower end of each barrel at a hub station near one end of said assembly line; a filling mechanism on said frame means at a filling station in said line for discharging a liquid into the upper end of each barrel after the hub is attached; a piston inserting mechanism oN said frame means for urging a piston into said upper end of each barrel in a piston station without materially increasing the pressure of the liquid in the barrel; a discharge mechanism on said frame means for removing an assembled syringe with liquid therein from the other end of said line; and drive means actuating and synchronizing said elongated means and said mechanism.
 3. A machine according to claim 2, including an evacuation mechanism on said frame means for reducing the pressure within each barrel containing said liquid while a said piston is inserted into said barrel.
 4. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said barrel advancing means includes a plurality of elongated parallel elements supported on said frame means and operating means operatively interconnected to at least one of said elongated elements for moving same whereby said plurality of barrels are advanced simultaneously and intermittently through a plurality of stations along said assembly line.
 5. A machine according to claim 3, including a plunger applying mechanism on said frame means at a plunger station in said line for inserting a plunger into each barrel and attaching the plunger to said piston.
 6. In a machine for automatically assembling and filling a syringe having a cylindrical barrel open at both ends, a sealing member closing one end of said barrel, and a piston within said barrel, the combination comprising: frame means; barrel advancing means including elongated means movably supported on said frame means for engaging simultaneously a plurality of spaced barrels disposed in upright positions along an assembly line and for simultaneously and intermittently advancing said plurality of barrels through a plurality of spaced stations arranged along said assembly line; a sealing mechanism mounted on frame means for applying a sealing member to the lower end of each barrel at a sealing station near one end of said assembly line; a filling mechanism on said frame means at a filling station in said line for discharging a liquid into the upper end of each barrel after the sealing member is attached; a piston inserting mechanism on said frame means for urging a piston into said upper end of each barrel in a piston station without materially increasing the pressure of the liquid in the barrel; a discharge mechanism on said frame means for removing an assembled syringe with liquid therein from the other end of said line; and drive means actuating and synchronizing said elongated means and said mechanisms.
 7. A machine according to claim 6, further including detecting means mounted on said frame means and disposed downstream of said sealing mechanism for detecting the presence of a sealing member on each of said barrels.
 8. A machine according to claim 6, further including means associated with said piston inserting mechanism for creating at least a partial vacuum within the barrel located at said piston station prior to insertion of a piston into said barrel, and means for sensing the existence of the vacuum within said barrel for indicating the presence of a piston which is to be inserted into said barrel. 